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Richard Kaye is a partner in the Litigation Department at Phillips Nizer LLP.

A graduate of George Washington University Law School, Richard started his career as an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan.  He was a founding partner of Berger & Kaye LLP and, prior to his joining Phillips Nizer, he was the chair of the Litigation Department and one of the managing partners at Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP for nearly 18 years. 

Richard has long experience in litigating in state and federal courts as well as many arbitration and mediation proceedings in alternative dispute resolution forums.  He has represented clients in all aspects of civil litigation from pre-trial proceedings through trial and appeals, and represents clients in commercial, corporate, employment, real estate, contract, commercial lease, and property disputes and litigations, and in the defense of lawsuits brought under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and related local statutes.  He also acts as outside general counsel for numerous companies and in the representation of individuals in a wide range of business and real estate transactions.
 
Richard’s clients include companies involved in technology, industrial, construction, retail and service businesses, as well as real estate developers, factors, registered investment advisors, property owners, and condominium associations and cooperative corporations. Richard also represents not-for-profit organizations active in the New York metropolitan area. He takes particular pride in close communications and long-standing relationships with his clients, and the achievement of good results both before and after trial.

In addition to acting as a “judge” in Moot Court programs sponsored by the American Bar Association (ABA) and various law schools, Richard is an active participant in Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs focusing on civil litigation topics.  He recently participated as a panelist in a session entitled Building a Better Arbitration: Avoiding Pitfalls and Problems at a CLE program sponsored by the Dispute Resolution Section of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) held at New York Law School.  He was also the presenter for the session on defaults and remedies for a CLE program on Residential Contracts and Closings in New York sponsored by Lorman Education Services.  Previously, Richard was an instructor in civil litigation for the Marymount Manhattan College Paralegal Studies Program and served as an attorney-arbitrator in the Small Claims Part of the Civil Court of the City of New York in Manhattan. 

Richard served for more than a decade as an officer and director of the Ronald McDonald House at the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in Valhalla, New York, and is presently a member of the board of directors of Arts & Minds, Inc., which offers art related programs for people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and their caregivers.  He is also a proud supporter of Rattlestick Theatre in New York City.

A lifelong student of naval history and maritime affairs, Richard is a member of numerous Navy and maritime associations, and serves on the Samuel Eliot Morison Award for Naval Literature Committee of the New York Commandery of the Naval Order of the United States.

Peer Review Rating

• AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell

Professional Memberships

• New York State Bar Association

Community & Civic Organizations

• Board of Directors and Counsel to, Arts & Minds, Inc., which offers art related programs for Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers. 
• Board of Directors, White Plains Library Foundation
• Treasurer and Judge Advocate, Naval Order of the United States, NY Commandery
• Member, Flotilla 74, United States Coast Guard Auxillary

RECOGNITION

• Recognized as one of New York City’s top litigation attorneys by AVENUE Magazine in conjunction with LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell